The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-14
POLITICS AND THE STAGE.
Mr.. Irvings Production of Faust"
Highly Commended.

Highly Commented.
New YORK, Nov. 12.-There was
mighty struggle between poll
tics and the stage in the hearts of New York
ers on Monday night. 1t ended in sort of
compromise, and the majority of the first
nighters went to see Irvings Faust" in the
early part of the evening and talked politics
the rest of the night. The tendency of the
average American citizen to stand around
on the eve of election with his hands in his
pockets, his hat over his eyes and large and
corpulent cigar protruding from the corner
of his mouth is just as pronounced in New
York rs it is in a back county village. 1t
needed something very powerful in the way
of a theatrical attraction to penetrate the
din of political strife Mr. Irving's produc-
ton of Faust" was the attraction that
knocked politics higher than kite. The
performance was best summed up by an ex-
perienced and popular Justice of the Su-
preme Court who has been devoted thea
tre-goer all his life. He said at Delmonicos
that evening:
Faust Is the best performance ever
given on any stage by any actor. Nothing
that have ever seen in Paris, London or
elsewhere compares for a moment with it
in detail, finish or absolute perfection in
every branch of the theatric art"
Descriptions Of Irving's most notable and
from London so often, and written about to
such extraordinary length in all the jour
mails OF the English language as well as the
critical reviews of other tongues, that there
is little to add The much cherished scheme
of theatrical dreamers of giving a great
spectacular and mechanical production,
backed up by excellent actors, has been
realized for the first time. There have been
many great state presentations of gor-
geous scenery and notable spectacles,
but the mechanical expense of
such productions was so great that
the management was obliged to economic
by filling out the bill with cheap
actors. Good actors like Edwin Booth,
Salvini and the rest have poor companies
and cheaply mounted plays. Occasionally
capable actor appears in an expensive
production. Then it is the play that is
wanting in worth In Faust" everything
is perfected. To begin with, an actor and
actress who are famous the world over are
suited absolutely with characters that are
familiar and classical. The MephiSto of
Irving is his most impressive PRESERVATION.
His gaunt body, remarkable face and
grewsome personality in the character
play it, every man who thinks of
the devil at all will invariably call up the
image of Henry Irving in his mind. His
wretched and deadly pallor, the incessant
and evil fun of his Sneering and leering
wrong-doing dominated the entire produc-
ton. 1t was wonderful characterization,
and the fact that it was decidedly grotesque
did not lessen its force. Miss Terry's MAR
garrett is, of course, a finished and beautiful
performance l wonder if this beautiful
and distinguished actress ever did anything
on the stage that did not verge on perfec-
ton. The innocence, guilt and Sufferings of
Goethes beautiful heroine were portrayed
with ineffable strength and skill. The minor
actors were up to the standard of the
Lyceum Company.
The play Itself, adapted from the German
by Mr.. Wills, is graceful in language and
dramatic in action. 1t is a story that never
grows old. When ii comes to the manner
OF production it would seem that there is
nothing left for stage realism to accomplish.
The spectacles over which New York has
raved at various times during the past ten
years are puny, crude and silly compared to
the triumphs of this production There
must be an army of acrobats in the troupe
to supply the goblin and nondescript COM
binations of men and beasts, the bats, owls
and spectres who made up the hideous and
fascinating multitude in which "MephlSto"
reigned supreme. All sorts of fantastic
forms scaled the rocks, swung across tire
stage and made the most astounding exhibit
Of Internal playfulness that has been known
outside of madman's brain. Irving is in
for greater season in America than he has
ever known before BLAKELY HALL.